CN112839803A

CN112839803A - Composite vitreous glass plate with electronic function module

Info

Publication number: CN112839803A
Application number: CN202080001322.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·埃费尔茨; C·博托瓦; P·韦伯
Original assignee: Saint Gobain Glass France SAS
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Glass France SAS
Priority date: 2019-08-26
Filing date: 2020-05-29
Publication date: 2021-05-25
Anticipated expiration: 2040-05-29
Also published as: CN112839803B; EP4021719A1; US20220234333A1; WO2021037404A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a composite glass pane (1) comprising two glass panes (1a,1b) of a glass or polymer substance and at least one connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c) bonded therebetween, wherein a recess (1d) of the connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c) is provided in a partial surface region of the composite glass pane (1), and an electronic functional module (2) is arranged in the recess (1d), the thickness of the electronic functional module being less than or equal to the thickness of the connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c), wherein the functional module (2) comprises an electronic functional element (2c) which is fastened to a separate thin carrier polymer film (2a) on one of the glass panes (1a,1b) of a glass or polymer substance, wherein the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure is printed on the carrier polymer film (2a), the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure having a spiral or multi-angular spiral conductor set surrounding the functional element (2 c).

Description

Composite vitreous glass plate with electronic function module

The present invention relates to a composite vitreous glass plate having an electronic function module, a vehicle equipped with the composite vitreous glass plate, and a method for manufacturing the same.

In motor vehicles and in buildings, the detection of environmental conditions or parameters plays an increasingly important role for safe and efficient operation. Modern passenger cars are therefore equipped, like high-value buildings, with a large number of sensors which detect relevant environmental states or parameters and supply the real-time values to a processing and control unit which controls the functions of the vehicle or building. Furthermore, this applies not only to motor vehicles but also to some extent to certain ships, trains and aircraft.

Some sensors can advantageously be arranged on or in the front window of a passenger car, or optionally also on or in the rear window, side window or glass roof unit of a passenger car. Corresponding devices have long been known for so-called rain sensors, by means of which the wiper function of a vehicle is controlled. Within the general trend of substantially complete prefabrication of vehicle components, there are developments aimed at integrating corresponding sensors into prefabricated glazing units (e.g. front or rear window panes) of a vehicle. A corresponding solution is mentioned in WO 2019057574.

Furthermore, vehicle panes with integrated or partially integrated sensors are known from EP 2121308B 1 or CN 101087135 a. An optical moisture sensor for detecting moisture on the outside and/or inside of a motor vehicle glazing panel is known from DE 102004054465 a1, which sensor is integrated in a PVB film, with which two glazing panels of a composite glass glazing panel are connected to one another. Furthermore, a glass panel with an illuminated switching surface and a heating function is known from WO 2015/162107 a 1.

WO2019150037a1 discloses an OLED functional module on a circuit board in a composite glass pane, which is mounted on one of the glass panes by means of a plastic tape, and similarly WO2017103426a1 discloses an OLED functional module on a circuit board in a composite glass pane.

DE202015009229U1 and DE102013003686a1 disclose LED functional elements on circuit boards in composite glass panes. WO2017097536a1 discloses photodiodes on a circuit board within a composite glass plate. DE102005006862a1 discloses a capacitive rain sensor for a vehicle, which is composed of a helical conductor structure. WO2020064297a1 also discloses a functional module in a composite glass pane.

The electronic functional elements are usually arranged in recesses in the connecting film of the composite pane in order to compensate for the thickness of the functional elements in the surrounding area.

It has also been demonstrated that the inevitable flow of the connecting polymer film or connecting laminate between two glass plates of a composite vitreous glass plate can exert a mechanical influence on the electronic functional element arranged between the glass plates, which leads to a deterioration of its performance and/or reliability. This problem arises in particular when the actual functional element is surrounded by a thin, closely adjacent, particularly sensitive conductor structure.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved composite vitreous glass pane and an improved method for the production thereof, which are suitable for ensuring unlimited efficacy and reliability of embedded electronic functional modules even after having undergone the necessary lamination process.

This object is achieved in its device aspect by a composite vitreous glass pane having the features of claim 1 and in its method aspect by a method having the features of claim 12. Suitable developments of the inventive concept are the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.

The invention comprises the idea of mechanically substantially decoupling an electronic functional module comprising at least one electronic functional element to be integrated into a composite vitreous glass pane from an intermediate layer connecting the first and second vitreous or polymeric glass panes (connecting the polymer film or connecting the laminate). The concept continues in that the mechanical decoupling can be achieved most simply by a geometric separation, i.e. by a distance between the functional module and the intermediate layer.

It also includes the idea of providing a recess of the polymer film or film laminate in a partial surface region of the composite vitreous glass pane, which corresponds to or exceeds the transverse dimension of the functional module. Furthermore, it is necessary to prepare functional modules having a thickness at most equal to the thickness of the polymer film or film laminate in order to be able to carry out an Inline process (Inline-process) with the polymer film or film laminate normally used in this case.

Finally, it is proposed to fix the functional elements of the electronic functional module to a separate thin carrier polymer film, in particular having a thickness of 30 to 70 μm, on one of the glass panes made of vitreous or polymer.

The composite vitreous glass sheet of the present invention has two vitreous-or polymeric-glass sheets and at least one connecting polymer film or connecting laminate bonded therebetween. Furthermore, the electronic functional element is arranged between two glass plates of a vitreous or polymeric substance. Recesses are provided in the surface regions of the composite glass pane for the connection of the polymer films or for the connection of the laminate, in which recesses electronic functional modules are arranged. The thickness of the functional module is less than or equal to the thickness of the tie polymer film or the tie laminate. The thickness of the functional module is preferably less than the thickness of the polymer film or film laminate. The functional module has or contains electronic functional elements. The functional elements are fixed on a separate thin carrier polymer film, in particular having a thickness of 30 to 70 μm, on one of the vitreous or polymeric glass plates. The carrier film is therefore arranged between the functional element and the glass plate of the vitreous or polymeric substance and connects them to one another. The carrier polymer film is preferably mounted directly on the vitreous-or polymer substance glass plate, i.e. without an interlayer of other polymer films.

The functional module comprises at least a functional element and a carrier film. The functional module may comprise further elements, in particular conductor structures, such as antenna wires (Antennenleitung) or protective polymer films, as described below.

The polymer film is not only a joining polymer film or a film joining a laminate for joining two glass panes, but also a carrier polymer film of a functional module, in particular a PVB film known per se. However, PVB films (polyvinyl butyrals) having such small thicknesses, as they are proposed here as carrier polymeric films for functional modules, have not been used in the art to date. In principle, however, films made of other polymers, for example EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or PU (polyurethane), can also be used in the context of the present invention.

According to the invention, the composite vitreous glass pane comprises two vitreous or polymeric glass panes. Soda-lime glass, which is commonly used for window glass, is particularly suitable for vitreous glass sheets. Suitable polymers are polycarbonate and polymethyl methacrylate.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the functional elements are arranged on the carrier polymer film together with an antenna and/or conductor structure comprising closely adjacent conductor sets (leiterzige). The antenna or conductor structure at least partially surrounds the electronic functional element. The antenna and/or conductor arrangement has in particular a wire group of a spiral or a polygonal spiral (eckig-spiral) around the functional element or is formed as such a wire group.

Preferably, the electronic functional element and the antenna and/or conductor structure are arranged completely within the recess of the connecting polymer film or the connecting laminate. The connecting polymer film or the connecting laminate therefore overlaps neither the functional element nor the antenna and/or conductor structure, whereby the sensitive antenna and/or conductor structure is protected in particular when producing the composite vitreous glass pane.

In a suitable embodiment of the structure, the antenna and/or conductor structure is printed on a carrier polymer film. For this purpose, printing methods known per se, such as screen printing of conductive pastes or inkjet printing of conductive inks, each with a subsequent thermal processing step, can be used.

In a further embodiment, a thin protective polymer film, in particular having a thickness of 30 to 70 μm, is arranged in the recess between the functional element and the further glass plate of vitreous or polymeric substance. The protective film serves to reduce the introduction of undesired forces into the functional module by the glass plate of a vitreous or polymeric substance lying above the functional module and is particularly suitable when functional modules are used whose thickness corresponds approximately to the spacing of the glass plates. The protective polymer film is preferably mounted directly on the vitreous-or polymer substance glass plate, i.e. without an interlayer of other polymer films.

In the sense of the present invention, the term "electronic functional module" is understood in a broad sense to mean a module which comprises a sensor module (for example a rain or air humidity or light sensor module), a display module (for example a head-up display module in a windshield), a communication module (for example an antenna or an integrated radio module), and also combinations of the mentioned functional units with one another or with other functional units not mentioned here. In an implementation that is meaningful from the present point of view, the electronic functional module therefore comprises at least one of the following functional elements: humidity sensors, light sensors, temperature sensors, antennas, actuators, electronic processing or switching units, LCD display units and LED display units. In particular, more than one functional unit from the group may be included.

Of particular interest from the present point of view is an embodiment in which the functional module comprises, as functional element, a temperature sensor with an antenna surrounding the temperature sensor, the antenna having a spiral or polygonal spiral conductor set.

In an embodiment which is particularly practical from the present point of view, the functional element has the shape of a flat prism, in particular a flat cuboid or a flat disk. However, the present invention is not limited thereto; rather, it can also be designed with electronic functional units that are irregularly formed and not completely surrounded by the housing. Typically, however, the functional element has a greater thickness than the surrounding, in particular printed, antenna and/or conductor structure.

According to established manufacturing techniques for composite vitreous glass sheets, in particular for road vehicles, in a preferred embodiment of the invention the thickness of the polymer film or film-laminate and of the electronic functional module is less than 1.2 mm, in particular in the range from 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm. It goes without saying that the invention can also be advantageously used in combination with thicker polymer films or film laminates, in which case the arrangement of a plurality of functional elements in a single functional module can be made simpler in terms of electrical parameters and connection and encapsulation technology.

Based on the inventors' studies, an embodiment appears to be advantageous in which the carrier polymer film is applied overlapping the connecting polymer film at the edge of the recess. Depending on the size of the notch in the connecting polymer film, the overlap area may preferably be 1 mm to 10 mm, for example 2 to 3 mm. The same applies to the protective polymer film, if present. Furthermore, a minimum spacing between the outermost section of the antenna structure or other conductor structure holding the functional module and the perimeter of the recess in which the functional module is disposed appears to be useful. The spacing is preferably from 1 mm to 10 mm, in particular from 2 mm to 5 mm. With such a spacing, the "flow-over" of the surrounding connecting polymer film onto the conductor structure and thus its possible deformation is avoided.

In an implementation that is economically particularly important from the present point of view, the composite vitreous glass pane according to the invention is embodied as a front or rear window pane or side window pane or roof glazing of a vehicle, wherein the recess of the polymer film or film laminate and the prefabricated electronic functional module are arranged at or near the edge of the composite vitreous glass pane. The great use in road vehicles, in particular passenger cars, should be emphasized here. But may also be used in other vehicles, such as trains, ships, small aircraft, air taxis, etc., in addition to this. In addition to use of the invention in vehicles, it may also be used in architectural glazings. In the case of transparent conductive structures, it is also possible to place the electronic functional module away from the edges of the composite glass pane. This applies in particular also in the case of tinted glass and in application areas outside the automotive industry.

In the above-mentioned application, it is advantageous from the inventors' point of view that the recess has an area proportion of less than 10%, in particular less than 5%, of the area of the composite vitreous glass sheet. With such an area ratio, the mechanical stability of the composite formed with the linking polymer film or linking laminate between two glass plates of vitreous or polymeric substance can be sufficiently ensured. However, in individual cases, exceeding this area ratio also appears unimportant.

The connection therefore also relates in principle to a vehicle, in particular a road vehicle, having at least one composite vitreous glass pane having a structure according to the invention.

The method aspect of the invention largely follows from the apparatus aspect described above and is therefore not described again here. It is pointed out, however, that the steps of the method described in claim 12 and its design can be modified within the scope of the special design as an electronic functional module provided according to the invention such that it appears usable. It is important here that the advantages obtainable with the mechanical decoupling of the electronic functional elements from the intermediate layer of the composite vitreous glass pane are achieved by suitable process embodiments.

A configuration of the method is specified in which the provision of the electronic functional module comprises equipping the carrier polymer film with an antenna and/or conductor structure comprising closely adjacent conductor sets, wherein the antenna or conductor structure surrounds the electronic functional element, in particular at least in regions. Finally, an embodiment is specified which is advantageous from the present point of view, in which the step of placing an electronic functional element with an underlying carrier polymer film on the surface of the first or second glass plate of vitreous or polymer substance is carried out, the step of covering the electronic functional element with a thin protective polymer film.

Conventional composite vitreous glass sheets are laminated in an autoclave at high pressure. It has been shown that this may damage the functional elements and in particular the sensitive surrounding antenna and/or conductor structures. To avoid this, the lamination of the composite is preferably carried out at a temperature of less than 120 ℃, particularly preferably less than 100 ℃. The lamination is preferably carried out under reduced pressure ("under vacuum"), in particular for a period of from 2 hours to 20 hours. The lamination is preferably performed without the use of an autoclave.

Further, advantages and utility/convenience of the present invention will be derived from the following description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

figures 1a and 1b show schematic views (top and cross-sectional views) of an embodiment of the invention,

fig. 2a and 2b show detailed views (top view and cross-sectional view) of the arrangement according to fig. 1a and 1b, an

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram for explaining the method according to the invention.

Figure 1a schematically shows a top view and figure 1b shows a cross-sectional view along section a-a of a composite vitreous glass sheet 1 according to one embodiment of the invention as a sedan front window. The windscreen 1 is formed as a composite glass pane having first and

second glass panes

1a,1b and a polymer film 1c bonded between the glass panes. In the region near the upper edge of the front window pane, a recess 1d is provided in the polymer film 1c, in which recess the electronic functional module 2 is inserted between the first and

second glass panes

1a,1 b.

Fig. 2a and 2b show an embodiment of an electronic functional module 2, in which an antenna conductor 2b, which extends in a spiral-like manner in a square basic shape, is printed by means of a printing method on a thin carrier polymer film 2a (pvb) having a thickness of approximately 50 μm in such a way that it completely surrounds a centrally arranged temperature sensor 2 c. The conductor set of the antenna conductor 2b can be formed from a conductive paste or ink by a printing method known per se for this purpose, and the temperature sensor 2c is connected to the antenna conductor, in particular by means of a conductive adhesive point.

Fig. 2b shows how the electronic functional module 2 is inserted into the recess 1d of the composite vitreous glass pane 1. It can be seen that the double layer laminate 1c consisting of two different PVB films, which differ in their physical properties and which, as a laminate, provide the best property compensation as an interlayer for the composite vitreous glass sheet, acts here as a tie film between the first and second

vitreous glass sheets

1a,1 b.

It can furthermore be seen that the thin PVB carrier film 2a of the functional module 2 extends over the entire area below the connection laminate 1c at the edge of the recess 1 d. The overlap area may suitably be 2-3 mm. It can furthermore be seen that there is a spacing between the outermost section of the antenna wire 2b and the periphery of the recess 1d, which spacing can usefully be 2 to 5 mm.

Above the functional module, a thin PVB protective film 2d is arranged on the underside of the second glass pane 1 b. Here, it is likewise carried out overlapping the connection laminate 1c, but this is not essential for the invention. Since the protective polymer film 2d is used to protect the temperature sensor 2c, it is also sufficient to cover the surface thereof instead of the size of the antenna wire.

Figure 3 schematically illustrates important steps in the manufacture of the composite vitreous glass sheet shown in figure 1.

In step S1, a thin PVB carrier film 2a and an electronic functional element 2c (e.g., the temperature sensor described above) are provided. In a second step, the carrier polymer film 2a is provided with conductor structures 2b (for example the above-mentioned antenna conductors) by means of a suitable printing method (for example screen printing or inkjet printing), and in a step S3 the functional units 2c are applied to the carrier polymer film 2a, fixed there and electrically connected to the conductor structures. The electronic functional module 2 is thus ready for installation.

Subsequently, in step S4, the electronic function module 2 is applied to a predetermined mounting position on the first glass pane 1a provided in advance. Subsequently, a protective polymer film (not shown) or even a protective elastomer layer may be applied on the functional module.

In step S5, the PVB joining film 1 c' cut out externally beforehand is provided with a recess 1d adapted to the transverse dimension and mounting position of the electronic function module 2, and a preconfigured PVB joining film 1c is obtained, as shown in fig. 1.

In a first step S6 of the so-called inline process, the configured PVB joining film 1c is applied on the first vitreous glass sheet 1a and in a subsequent step S7 the second vitreous glass sheet 1b is placed and the stack is laminated in the usual manner to a composite vitreous glass sheet 1.

In this lamination process, by means of the sufficiently large-dimensioned recess 1d in the PVB joining film 1c, in combination with the use of a thin PVB carrier film of the functional module 2 in this recess, it is ensured that the flow of the PVB joining film does not lead to mechanical influences on the functional module and in particular on its conductor structure. Thus, their full performance and unlimited reliability are ensured by the present invention.

Experiment of

Various experiments were performed. The observations made here are as follows.

The use of a joining polymer film or joining laminate 1c having a thickness less than that of the functional module results in glass breakage upon lamination. This can be avoided by using a joining polymer film or joining laminate 1c having a thickness greater than or equal to the thickness of the functional module.

In the case of lamination in an autoclave at 12bar and 130 ℃ for a period of 1 hour, it was observed that the conductor structure was sometimes deformed. This can be avoided by carrying out the lamination under vacuum at a temperature of e.g. 90 ℃ in the case of an autoclave. For this reason a longer lamination time of at least 2 hours is necessary.

If the recess 1d of the connecting polymer film or of the connecting laminate 1c is chosen so small that it contains no conductor structure, although it contains functional elements, a deformation of the conductor structure is sometimes observed. The inventors attribute this effect to the enclosed air. This can be avoided by arranging not only the functional element but also the conductor structure completely within the recess 1 d.

The use of a protective polymer film 2d results in improved aesthetics. Especially the edges of the carrier polymer film are less visible.

Embodiments of the invention are not limited to the examples described above, but are equally feasible in a number of variations within the scope of the appended claims.

List of reference numerals

1 composite vitreous glass plate

1a,1b first and second vitreous glass plates

1c bonding of polymer films (PVB films) or of laminates

1 c' unconfigured linking Polymer film

1d recesses in Polymer films

2 electronic function module

2a Carrier Polymer film

2b conductor structure (antenna wire)

2c functional element (temperature sensor)

2d protective Polymer films

Claims

1. A composite vitreous glass pane (1) having two vitreous or polymeric glass panes (1a,1b) and at least one connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c) bonded therebetween,

wherein a recess (1d) of the connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c) is provided in a partial surface region of the composite vitreous glass pane (1), and an electronic functional module (2) is arranged in the recess (1d), the thickness of the electronic functional module (2) being less than or equal to the thickness of the connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c),

wherein the functional module (2) has an electronic functional element (2c), the electronic functional element (2c) being fixed on a separate thin carrier polymer film (2a) on one of the glass plates (1a,1b) of a vitreous or polymeric substance, the carrier polymer film (2a) having in particular a thickness of 30 to 70 μm,

wherein the functional element (2c) is arranged on a carrier polymer film (2a) together with an antenna (2b) and/or a conductor structure comprising closely adjacent groups of wires,

wherein the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure is printed on a carrier polymer film (2a),

wherein the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure has a spiral or multi-angular spiral conductor set surrounding the functional element (2 c).

2. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to claim 1, wherein the electronic functional element (2c) and the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure are arranged completely within the recess (1 d).

3. Composite vitreous glazing panel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said functional element (2c) has a thickness greater than the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure.

4. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the carrier polymer film (2a) is mounted directly on the vitreous-or polymeric substance glass pane (1 a).

5. Composite vitreous glass pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a thin protective polymer film (2d) is arranged in the recess (1d) between the functional element (2c) and the other vitreous or polymeric glass pane (1a,1b), said protective polymer film (2d) having in particular a thickness of 30 to 70 μm, said protective polymer film (2d) preferably being mounted directly on the vitreous or polymeric glass pane (1 b).

6. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the functional element (2c) is formed as a humidity sensor, a light sensor, a temperature sensor, an actuator, an electronic processing or switching unit, an LCD display unit and/or an LED display unit.

7. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to claim 6, wherein the functional element (2c) is formed as a temperature sensor and wherein the antenna (2b) and/or the conductor structure is an antenna (2 b).

8. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the thickness of the joining polymer film or joining laminate (1c) and of the electronic functional module (2) is less than 1.2 mm, in particular in the range from 0.6 mm to 1.0 mm.

9. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the carrier polymer film (2a) is applied overlapping the connecting polymer film (1c) at the edge of the recess (1 d).

10. Composite vitreous pane (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the recess (1d) has an area proportion of less than 10%, in particular less than 5%, of the area of the composite vitreous pane.

11. Vehicle, in particular road vehicle, having at least one composite vitreous glass pane (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Method for producing a composite vitreous glass sheet (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, comprising the following steps:

-providing a first and a second glass-or polymer substance glass plate (1a,1b),

-providing a joining polymer film or joining laminate (1c) for joining the first and second vitreous-or polymer substance glass plates, having a recess (1d) provided therein,

-providing an electronic functional element (2c) as an electronic functional module (2) on a thin carrier polymer film (2a), the shape of which matches the shape of a recess (1d) in said connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c), and the thickness of which is smaller than the thickness of said connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1c), wherein an antenna (2b) and/or conductor structure comprising closely adjacent sets of wires is printed on the carrier polymer film (2a), said antenna (2b) and/or conductor structure having a helical or multi-angular helical set of wires surrounding the functional element (2c),

-placing an electronic functional element (2c) having an underlying carrier polymer film (2a) onto one surface of a first or second glass-or polymer substance glass plate (1a,1b),

-bonding said joining polymer film or joining laminate (1c) on the same surface of the first or second vitreous or polymer glass plate (1a,1b) and

-laminating the composite with the placed second vitreous-or polymeric-substance glass plate (1a,1b) to complete the composite vitreous glass plate (1).

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the step of covering the electronic functional element (2c) with a thin protective polymer film (2d) is performed after the step of placing the electronic functional element (2c) with the underlying carrier polymer film (2a) onto the surface of the first or second vitreous-or polymeric substance glass plate (1a,1b) and adhering the connecting polymer film or connecting laminate (1 c).

14. A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the lamination of the composite is performed at a temperature below 120 ℃, preferably below 100 ℃.

15. The process according to one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the lamination is carried out under reduced pressure without using an autoclave for a period of 2 to 20 hours.